Jaeger-LeCoultre

Antoine LeCoultre opened a workshop in Le Sentier in 1833 and set about solving a problem nobody else had: precise measurement. His Millionomètre of 1844 was the first instrument capable of measuring to a micron, and it let the Vallée de Joux move from skilled approximation to genuine precision.

The house became the movement supplier to the industry. Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, and Audemars Piguet all built watches on LeCoultre ébauches, and the manufacture has produced well over a thousand distinct calibres — an output no other house approaches. The partnership with the Parisian retailer Edmond Jaeger, formalised in the company name in 1937, gave it the Jaeger-LeCoultre it still carries.

Two products define it in the public mind. The Reverso of 1931 was designed so British Army officers in India could flip the case and protect the crystal during polo; the reversible case became one of the few genuinely original watch designs of the century. The Atmos clock, developed from 1928, runs on atmospheric temperature variation and needs no winding at all.

The Duoplan and the calibre 101 — still the smallest mechanical movement in series production, introduced in 1929 — sit alongside the gyrotourbillons and minute repeaters that keep the manufacture at the technical front.

Richemont has owned the house since 2000.

Jaeger-LeCoultre holds 16 models, from £5,650 to £20,495. Half cost less than £9,000, and a quarter less than £6,125. 13 of 16 are automatic. 5 are stocked by more than one retailer, giving 21 offers in total. Prices are checked nightly against the retailers’ own feeds.

1833

Antoine LeCoultre founds his workshop in Le Sentier.

1844

The Millionomètre measures to the micron for the first time.

1929

Calibre 101, the smallest mechanical movement, is introduced.

1931

The Reverso launches with its flip case.

1937

The Jaeger-LeCoultre name is formalised.